Chapter 7
‘Esmera! There you are!’ she said as soon as she neared her. She’d caught her just as she was sipping chilled instant coffee through a straw from a tall glass.
Esmera’s face lit up when she turned and saw her. She put the glass down on the sand and sprang up to take Emilia’s hand and pat it lovingly.
‘Hello, Emilia! Why, look at you! You look amazing!’ A moment later, Esmera’s face seemed to register Emilia’s concerned expression. She mirrored it and added, ‘Why are you frowning, sweetheart? I thought that was what you wanted! To be young!’
‘Yes, that was it, but your present came with no user’s manual… and I have many questions, Esmera!’
‘Of course, of course! I told you I’d be here if you needed me. Sit down, Child. I’ll answer your questions gladly.’ Esmera pointed to the deckchair and they both sat on it gingerly, side by side. Esmera was a big woman but the deckchair seemed strong enough.
A moment later, Emilia sighed and said, ‘Before I ask you about the age thing… I have one other question. About my aunt Irini. Her notary just phoned me. He said…’
Esmera put a gentle hand on Emilia’s forearm. ‘I know… I know. And I’m really sorry for your loss, Emilia. I didn’t want to tell you last night. You were already upset. And it was your birthday… It was hardly the time and the occasion to tell you a loved one had passed away.’
‘Yes, I can appreciate that, but—’
‘And now you’re going to ask me why I gave you the CD, when I knew you would be asked to go to Milos, to be among people who know you and would clearly see you haven’t aged a day in twenty years.’
Emilia nodded profusely. ‘Yes! That was my second question. But, wait a minute! How are you doing this? Are you reading my mind? Just what powers do you have? Are you a witch or something?’
‘A witch? Oh, goodness me! That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard!’ A belly laugh concluded Esmera’s stunned response.
Once she sobered, Emilia asked, ‘So, what are you exactly, if not a witch? And what do you call this ?’ she said, gesticulating profusely with both hands while pointing two sharp fingers up and down her own body.
‘Easy… easy, my girl. You’ll give yourself an ulcer. And it’s really not necessary.’
‘I just want to know what you’ve done to me, and how I am supposed to navigate this…. this… new arrangement.’
‘Okay, first of all… take a deep breath! This was a present, remember? Trust me. It is for your own good. And you don’t need to worry about a thing. What I gave you is an opportunity so you can find out if it’s worth crying over spilt milk for the rest of your life or not. Because, the way you live it, girl… The way you keep begrudging your “lost years,” you miss living your life fully as it is unfolding right now. I am hoping the song will show you that.’
‘How? I don’t understand.’
‘You asked me to tell you more. Here is the main thing you need to know. You will not stay twenty-five.’
‘I won’t?’
‘No. You won’t. As a matter of fact, you will turn back to forty-five at some point but I can’t tell you when.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because I don’t know.’
‘ What ?’
‘Relax! I told you. It’s okay…’
‘But… How is it okay? What if I go back to being forty-five when I am in a public place? What then?’
‘That is why I said last night you should take your personal CD player with you wherever you go. You see, you can use the song as often as you like to become young, but you cannot control when the spell will end. But there’s a fix for that. When you’re about to change back to your true form and you don’t want that to happen, just play the song and sing to it in order to remain young for another long interval.’
Emilia’s mind began to whirl. So many questions and she couldn’t handle them anymore. Her head felt heavy, like it was about to explode. ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa!’ she shouted, despite herself, flailing out her arms, nearly poking out Esmera’s eye.
Esmera dodged the outstretched hand with catlike reflexes by leaning back, then tilted herself forward again and chuckled. ‘Okay… Take it down a notch. Remember, I am here for you, Child. All you have to do is ask questions and I’ll answer. But slowly. Patiently. Or you won’t hear anything I say. You want to take it from the beginning?’
‘No… I’m okay. I think I got it. I have to play the song and sing to it in order to change to my younger form, and also to remain young if I’m starting to change back to my true form and I don’t want to.’
Esmera nodded. ‘Great, you’re a fast learner. A rare trait, as so many of the others I’ve given gifts to have been so heartbreakingly slow.’
Emilia looked at her, feeling mildly annoyed by the way Esmera tended to create more questions for her each time she spoke. Don’t even go there. Just keep asking your questions. ‘Okay. So, what’s this about the CD player? Can’t I just put the song on my phone or my ipod, and listen to it on my earphones? A CD player isn’t exactly the easiest thing to carry.’
‘You didn’t have trouble carrying it everywhere with you when you were a schoolkid!’
How the heck does she know that? Emilia squeezed her eyes shut and tried to remain focused on her questions, lest they’d stay sitting on this uncomfortable seat till sunset. Burnt to a crisp by then, too. ‘Esmera, you’re not helping!’
‘Okay. MP3 files that are played by modern devices are compressed files and these won’t work. You need to sing to the original sound track I gave you so that you can remain in—or change into—your younger form. A compression of the track would remove from it indispensable, subtle nuances of the sound and… basically… it wouldn’t work.’
‘Okay. CD player it is then.’
‘What else have you got? This is fun!’
‘No, it’s not! Seems to me like a fine mess, actually!”
‘That’s not very nice. Remember, it was a gift. Something you actually asked for! And, I’ll have you know that once you’ve mastered this shifting back and forth, you’ll realize I’ve given you a wonderful tool so that you can sort out your life. You just don’t know it yet.’
Emilia gave a laboured sigh, finally relaxing, then said, ‘Okay. Maybe, you’re right. I am sorry.’
Esmera patted her on the back, a sweet smile on her lips. ‘And that is why I approached you. You’re a good soul, Emilia. You deserve this… And, believe me when I say, you’re going to enjoy this ride.’
‘Okay, I guess I just have to take your word for it.’
‘That’s all I need from you. To trust me. So, next question?’
‘How do I know when I’m about to change back to my forty-five year old self? Will I see it coming, somehow?’
‘Well, that depends. What did you feel just before you changed to your younger self?’
Emilia didn’t have to think. The effect had been really strong. ‘I felt woozy! I had to hold on to my desk with both hands to stop from falling over my chair.’
‘Then, this is it. You’ll feel the same way, a few moments before your body starts to age. And it will take just a few seconds to change back, during the dizzy spell.’
‘That’s good news! It means I’ll have some kind of notice so I can seek a private space to change. And, if I want to remain young all I have to do is listen to the song again, right? I—’
‘Nuh-uh!’ interrupted Esmera, putting up a sharp finger. ‘Not listen. Sing. Sing the song ! Unless you sing along to the words, this won’t work.’
Emilia screwed up her face with discomfort. ‘Humph! At least, I’m not expected to dance to it. That’s something!’
‘Don’t be so negative.’
‘Do I have to sing aloud? What if I just whisper, in case I don’t want to be heard?’
‘That works too.’
‘Good to hear.’
A short silence ensued, and then, Esmera chuckled and said, ‘You haven’t asked me the most important question.’
‘What’s that?’
‘What happens when you make up your mind?’
‘Huh?’
‘You do realize you can’t live a double life forever, don’t you? You’ll have to decide in which form you wish to stay at some point.’
‘I can tell you now. I choose to remain young. I know what I want.’
‘Don’t be so hasty, Emilia… Go to Milos first… Stay a bit, find your feet… Change back and forth a few times. Then, you can decide.’
‘Fine. I’ll humour you. So, what do I do when I decide which form I want to stay in?’
‘Simple. Get in the form you choose and break the CD. You will then stay in that form.’
‘But I will age from then on, right? You haven’t turned me into a Highlander or something?’
Esmera laughed out loud. ‘You people! You love your pop culture, don’t you? Honestly, I’d be stumped if I didn’t love movies like you guys do! I’d never know what you’re saying!’ More peals of laughter ensued. When she finally sobered she added, ‘No, you won’t be like a Highlander. You’ll keep aging like the common mortal that you are.’
Emilia gave her a side-eyed glance. You people? The common mortal that you are? What is she talking about? ‘Good to know,’ she finally said, deciding not to ask.
‘Needless to say, you’ll need to keep the CD safe and in pristine condition.’
‘It’s already in my CD player in here.’ She patted the back pack in her lap. ‘And it’s staying in there.’
Esmera gave her a Cheshire cat smile, and Emilia smiled back, amazed. She didn’t know how Esmera had done it, but she felt like all the weight she’d been carrying inside her like a heavy boulder for years had been fully lifted by this gift. Even her forever aching heart felt buoyant and full of hope today. ‘Please tell me, Esmera… What are you? Some kind of fairy godmother?’
‘In a sense. But not exactly,’ said Esmera with a mischievous grin.
‘I have to tell you. I am feeling rather lost here…’
‘Please don’t, Child. Things will get clearer for you soon. And you’ll be happier too, once you get to Milos. You’ve missed it, haven’t you?’
‘Yes, of course I have. But I couldn’t go there all this time… My family had sold the house, you see. I have no place to stay there. The only decent relative I had was my aunt Irini, but because we’d lost touch I couldn’t just phone her up and ask her to stay with her so I can have a holiday… And now it’s too late… to see her again.’
‘Emilia, you’re a good person. We all make mistakes. Don’t beat yourself up about it. So, you’re booking accommodation to go to Milos for the funeral? You’ll go, right?’
‘I want to… but… do you think I’ll be back to my true form by tomorrow morning so I can travel?’
Esmera flicked her wrist. ‘Yes. The effect only lasts for a few hours at a time. Definitely less than twenty four.’
‘Oh, that’s a relief. So, yes, I am going! Probably for two nights. I’ll book a ferry for early morning tomorrow. The funeral is in the afternoon so I’ll be on the island well in advance.’
‘Good… Things will change for you soon, Emilia. I know you’d prefer to live on Milos if you could. And I have a feeling you will.’
‘But, how?’
‘Enough questions for one day, Emilia. Or should I call you… Lia?’ She gave a knowing smile and, this time, Emilia didn’t ask how she knew.
‘Good… Seems now you trust me a little more,’ said Esmera. ‘And now, listen. I wish I could be on the island with you, but I have obligations elsewhere. But don’t fret! Two dear friends of mine will be on the island to help you out. They know about the song. Elise is your age.’ She chuckled and added, ‘I mean, your “Lia” age. Believe me, Elise will come in very handy. As for little Chloe, she’ll bring joy to you. Lots of it!’ She gave a little sigh, eyes focusing far, and added, ‘Oh! That little girl blows sunshine into the world everywhere she goes... You’ll love her. Everybody does.’